Chapter 18: Under the Stars

                                    

                                          
[Unedited]
                          
Second day inside the household. It seems that Alfred suddenly got sick and caused us to stay with the three others with us.
                          
Arthur was in the same room as Alfred, proceeding to fix him up and find out why he got so sick all of a sudden.
                          
"Common cold," was his claim when he finally exited the room.
                          
Arthur then suggested for him to care for Alfred for the time being, with Kiku helping along, because as the saying says, "The more the merrier" it is nice to have more hands to help someone heal quicker.
                          
I pity those two - Alfred and Arthur. How would Arthur feel to finally reunite with his brother? Vice Versa? I always wondered....wondered if they were still okay after they got separated. I think that is a stupid thought. But I saw Alfred. He was fine. Then again, he was the one who left Arthur and his mother behind.
                          
-
                          
*le sigh* parents always die, do they?
                          
-
                          
We had the usual silent dinner, just like last night. An awkward, deafening silence, with only the contact of plates and metal spoons to accompany us. Time to time, one of us would glance towards another and then the latter would look back. Averting their eyes they would continue to eat; that's how tonight went, apparently.
                          
I looked down to my half-emptied plate. Somehow, through those small little details,I felt another oh-so familiar wave of nostalgia.
                          
"Here comes the carriages!"
                          
I took another bite into my meal.
                          
No, I couldn't recall my memory. I guess it's just my thought of being so full of food being digested in my stomach.
                          
-
                          
While Kiku and Ludwig went to clean the dishes, I decided to take some fresh air. I didn't want to take a walk, oh no; especially in the night's air and cool breeze. Who knows what is in those alleyways.
                          
Brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, I look up upon those stars and saw not all that much, even if they glistened and brightened in those evening mixtures of dark and midnight blue, painted across this sky. The moon, a first quarter moon, shined and lightened the evening sky - a beautiful sight.
                          
I failed to notice some footsteps coming this way.
                          
"(Name)! What are you doing up so late?" A voice asked.
                          
Turning around, I flashed a wide grin when I realized it was Feliciano.
                          
"Good evening, Feliciano." Was my response, causing me to completely ignore his question.
                          
"You should get inside. It's really cold and the mean guys might come and get us!" He suggested in a bubbly way, however also shaken by the atmosphere. I stood there, unknowingly of the evil that actually wanted to come to me.
                          
"I wanted to admire the sky. Would you like to join me?"
                          
Feliciano seemed to be hesitant of my request, but soon he accepted my offer, and stood besides me with a smile on his face.
                          
"(Name)?" He asked after what seemed like a few minutes after his arrival.
                          
"Yes?" I replied.
                          
"...I know this may seem soon, but how do you like our home? Kiku, Luddie, and me in it?"
                          
"It's a wonderful experience to visit one's home. I'm grateful to have a place to stay in, with a roof under my head."
                          
I looked towards my right to see some gray clouds slowly coming this way.
                          
Then I looked back at Feliciano with a warm smile.
                          
He seemed to be utterly focused upon the evening sky. With this...content of something. Maybe curiosity?
                          
"So....why are you visiting this town?"
                          
"I want to visit an old friend from overseas." I replied. It isn't a lie;  this person I'm visiting actually is a person I know, and we may be friends, but who knows; after all, Feliks may be a shy man, but when he grows close to someone (most likely a friend), he'll be more open and outgoing.
                          
"I see. Are they a good friend? Maybe someday will be a good day to meet them! It's good to make more friends, right, (Name)?"
                          
I nodded happily in glee.
                          
"What's their name?" Feliciano asked me with even more curiosity and eagerness. He looked like a child excited to open up his presents on Christmas.
                          
"His name is-" (JOOOOHNNN CENAAAA-)
                          
I stopped. I can't just tell him that my friend is a guy that is definitely well-known to the world! Feliciano will soon find out I'm an important person like Feliks!
                          
"His name is....Fern....yeah, Fern."
                          
"...Fern? Does he like nature?" Feliciano asked, looking unsure of my response.
                          
I slowly nodded, mentally facepalming. Why the heck did I call Feliks, Fern?! Out of all the names, I called him Fern! Why world, why?!
                          
Wait a second-
                          
"Well, my friends and I call him Fern because it's shorter for Fernando." I blurted out. Okay, now I made Feliks sound like anything other than a Polish guy.
                          
And now I made Feliciano think I'm weird. I guess my uneasiness seemed obvious.
                          
Soon I started to acknowledge the cold. Clutching my arms tightly and grasping myself to make warmth, I started to shiver.
                          
Feliciano draped his coat over me without hesitation and smiled in a kind way. "Never make a ragazza out in the cold!" He said, as if he was ready to say so from a manual.
                          
I smiled sheepishly and brought the coat closer. "Thank you...." I whispered. "Hahh... I'm such an idiot. I should've listened when you said that I should get inside, and look at me now. I'm sorry."
                          
"No, don't be!" He chirped. "In fact, I thank you for letting me look back at these stars. Pretty, aren't they? It's honestly been awhile since I've actually looked at them. Ever since...."
                          
He paused. Then, when his face faltered, it flickered back to its usual state, like a torch being lit up. "Nevermind that! Maybe soon, in an evening like this, I'll look up to these stars and remember this exact moment."
                          
I giggled at his childishness.
                          
"Yeah, I'll do the same."
                          
-=-
                          
"The stars are like lives. When one fades away, a life is gone. When one shines brighter than others, it seems like . . . that star isn't giving up. It's determined to continue on in life."
                          
-=-
                          
Gonna post this early because I'm just like that. Dana's okay with it anyways. :P
                          
- Author-kun